MOGADISHU — The Ministry of Interior of Somalia has officially and vehemently rejected the hasty election that took place today in Baidoa, which resulted in the re-election of South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) and Parliament Speaker Ali Said Fiqi.
A “Pseudo-Election” Condemned
In a strongly worded press release, the federal government stated that the expedited electoral process directly contradicts all agreements of the National Consultative Council, established electoral laws, and the provisional constitution. Federal officials declared that the proceedings do not reflect the true will of the people of South West State.
The Ministry characterized the event as a “pre-planned self-appointment” rather than a legitimate democratic exercise. According to the federal government, a procedure concluded within 24 hours fundamentally lacks the transparency, free competition, and legality required to be recognized under the country’s system of governance.
This severe federal rejection follows Mogadishu’s recent formal declaration that the regional president’s mandate had legally concluded, a move that previously ignited the current political and military standoff.
Defending the Constitutional Framework
The Ministry warned that this unilateral step exacerbates long-standing grievances in South West State and significantly damages ongoing national efforts toward reconciliation and democratization. The federal government firmly stated it will not accept the outcome or any illegal process disguised under the name of an election.
The Ministry’s official statement outlined Mogadishu’s resolute position:
“The Federal Government of Somalia makes it clear that any process that is illegal, coercive, and based on political corruption, masked under the name of an election, cannot be accepted. A leadership with established legitimacy can only come from the will of the people expressed through a process that is free, transparent, legitimate, and equal for all.”
In conclusion, the Federal Government of Somalia reaffirmed its strict commitment to defending the provisional constitution, protecting the federal system, and implementing elections that are genuinely free, fair, transparent, and reflective of the true will of the Somali people.
